BOSTON – The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), led by CEO Mark Goldfeder, has filed an amicus brief in support of the Trump Administration's efforts to hold Harvard University accountable for alleged ongoing antisemitism, a move that directly impacts nearly $3 billion in federal research funding. The brief sides with the administration in a lawsuit initiated by Harvard against 11 federal agencies for freezing these funds. This legal action underscores a broader conflict regarding the university's handling of antisemitism on its campus.
The amicus brief, described by the tweet as an effort against an "obnoxious facade," argues that no institution should be "simply entitled to billions of taxpayer dollars." It further states, "The federal government, for good reason, does not believe that Harvard is adequately protecting Jewish members of its community and does not want to support this obnoxious facade," directly quoting the brief's content. This statement highlights the NJAC's position that federal funding should be contingent on a safe and inclusive environment for all students, particularly Jewish students.
Harvard University filed its lawsuit after the Trump administration froze significant federal funding, citing concerns over the university's response to antisemitism. The administration has found that Harvard violated the civil rights of its Jewish and Israeli students, asserting that the university allowed antisemitism to flourish, especially following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. This legal battle has also seen support for the administration from other groups, including the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and 16 Republican-led states that filed their own amicus briefs.
In April 2025, Harvard released its own internal antisemitism report, which detailed a hostile environment for Jewish students. The report found that antisemitism had "infiltrated coursework, social life, the hiring of some faculty members and the worldview of certain academic programs." According to the report, 67% of Jewish students surveyed reported discomfort expressing their opinions, and 73% believed there was an "academic or professional penalty" for their views. The report also noted that Jewish students faced "bias, suspicion, intimidation, alienation, shunning, contempt, and sometimes effective exclusion."
Mark Goldfeder, a prominent attorney with rabbinic and judicial ordinations, founded the National Jewish Advocacy Center to provide legal and policy support to Jewish people, combating antisemitism through litigation and advocacy. Goldfeder, who previously advised the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations and was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council by the Trump administration, emphasizes NJAC's commitment to "aggressive legal efforts" and "public advocacy" to address antisemitism.
Harvard President Alan Garber has apologized for the campus climate and pledged reforms in response to the internal report's findings. However, the Trump administration continues to press for more stringent measures, threatening to ban foreign students and strip Harvard's tax-exempt status if it does not comply with demands for comprehensive changes to address antisemitism on campus. The outcome of this legal challenge could set a significant precedent for federal funding and accountability at higher education institutions.